Shield and funnel for recharging crucibles.



Patented .OcLZI I902.

a. B. nowu. SHIELD AND FUNNEL FOR REGHABGING CRUCIBLES.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 19 01.)

(No Model.)

fizz avatar.

- UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. BROWN, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CARPEN- TER STEELCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHIELD AND FUNNEL FOR RECHARGING CRUCIBLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,467, dated October21, 1902. Ap lication filed March 21, 1901. serial No. 52.140. (Nomodel.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGEB. BROWN, of Reading, Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Improvements in Shields and Funnels for RechargingGrucibles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of-my improvement is to facilitate the recharging of smelterscrucibles im mediately after the molten metal has been poured out ofthem, and therebyguard such crucibles against the injury to which theyare liable from contraction if they are permitted to cool down.

The mechanism by which I accomplish my object is a protector consistingof a hollow, tapering, and preferably asbestos filled shield, which isadapted in part to fit the upper portion of an ordinary barrel-shapedcrucible and which projects somewhat above the mouth of the cruciblewith a continuing taper and at its upper end is united to the lower endof a hollow truncated cone which serves as the funnel through which thecharge is fed into the crucible. The funnel is provided on the oppositesides with handles for the application of manual or other power by whichthe shield and crucible are shaken. Preferably the lower end of theshield is given a flaring shape to facilitate its application to thecrucible.

My mechanism is advantageousin a variety It prevents the loss of heat byraof Ways.

diation from the crucible. It protects the bystanders from the heat ofthe hot crucible.

It presents a convenient receptacle for the charge, and its handlesfacilitate the shaking by which the charge is made to settle down fromthe funneland in the crucible. Finally it is susceptible of easy andrapid applica- 40 tion, because being what may be called a drop-shieldits seating upon the hot crucible is assisted by its own gravity. Inother words, the shield is adapted to be dropped over the 'crucibleinorder to seat it about the crucible as distinguished from shields whichare opened and then closed about the crucible.

The accompanying drawings, illustrating the improvement applied to acrucible, are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top view with funnel-cover removed. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section taken through the plane indicated by the dotted line asa; on Fig. l.

The drawings are designed to represent an ordinary graphite crucible,having a flat bot tom A and an approximately barrel-shaped body B,'withan open mouth 0. The shield.

D is preferably composed. ofvan inner comparatively thin iron shell d-vand an outer thicker iron shell d, inclosing a sheet of asbestos e. Aring f, interposed between the shells d and d, is perforated to admitthe passage through it of the rivets f, by means of which the members ofthe shield are secured to each other at the bottom. Asimilarly-perforated ring g admits the rivets g, by which the upper endsof the shells d and d are fastened together and to thesuitablyperforated flaringlower end h of the funnel H.

Handles I I are secured to opposite sides of 7o the funnel H, preferablynear its upper end, in order to afiord ample leverage for tilting theshield and crucible back and forth for the purpose of settling down thecharge in the crucible. The shield'is intended to fit the upper taperingpart of the body of the crucible and extend downwardly from the part ofthe body of the crucible having the largest diameter to a plane suitablyhigher than that of the floor upon whichthe crucible rests.

The lower end of the shield is preferably formed with the outward flareK, which assists in the guidance of the shield downward upon the hotcrucible and which by reason of the body of air between it and the lowerpart of the crucible is especially effective in protecting thebystanders from the heat radiating therefrom.

In practice the crucible is at first partially filled with scrap metal,and there is then in- 0 troduced into the funnel a mixture of scrapmetal and fine charcoal. The charcoal is. soon ignited, and to keep theoutside air from it, and thereby lessen the extent of its combustion, Iclose the top of the funnel with a 5 suitable cover-such as, forexample, the cover Lpreferably provided on its under side with theconical flange Z, adapted to fit inside the wall of the funnel.

Although not absolutely essential, it is pre- :00

ferred to so proportion the diameter of the upper end of the shield andthe bottom of the funnel that the charge in falling will be directedtoward the middle of the mouth of the crucible.

It will be perceived that the shield, which is easily applied by merelylowering it upon the crucible, is also easily detached therefrom byraising it.

What is claimed as the invention is- 1. In combination with a smelterscrucible having an upwardly-tapering upper portion, an exteriorprotector consisting of a hollow drop-shield fitting a prescribed partof the upwardly-tapering upper portion of the body of said crucible andhaving an outwardly-flaring lower end.

2. In combination with a smelters crucible having an upwardly-taperingupper portion, a hollow drop-shield fittingaprescribed part of theupwardly-tapering upper portion of the body of said crucible andterminating at its lower end in a plane somewhat higher than the bottomof said crucible.

3. In combination with a smelters crucible having an upwardly-taperingupper portion, a hollow drop-shield fitting a prescribed part of theupwardly-tapering upper portion of the body of said crucible andextending a prescribed distance above the top of said cruoible.

4c. In combination with a smelters crucible having an upwardly-taperingupper portion, a tapering hollow drop-shield fitting a prescribed partof the upwardly-tapering upper portion of the body of said crucible andextending above and at its upper extremity having a smaller diameterthan the inside diameter of the top of said crucible.

5. A hollow drop-shield for a smelters crucible and a funnel surmountingand fastened to the upper end of said drop-shield.

6. A hollow drop-shield adapted to fit a prescribed portion of the bodyof a smelters crucible; a funnel sin-mounting and fastened to the upperend of said drop-shield, and handles affixed to said funnel.

7. A shield adapted to fit a prescribed portion of the body of asmelters crucible; a funnel surmounting said shield, and a cover adaptedto close the upper end of said funnel.

GEORGE E. BROWN.

Witnesses:

Tuos. M. BELKNAP, A. M. J ONES.

